Vehicle-wheel



(Medel.)

J; B. NEFF.

Vehicle Wheel..

No. 239,976. Y PatentedApril 12,1881.

e Ll y UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOSEPH B. NEFF, OF CUBA, ASSIGNOR TO BEUBEN ELWQOD, OF

` SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,976, dated April12, 1881. Application tiled January 31, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom 'it may concern:`

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. NEFF, of Cuba, Fulton county, State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wheels, of whichthe following is a full description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in whichf Figure l isa side elevation Fig. 2, across* section on line m x of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section ofthe hub, and Fig. 4 a cross` section at one of the lines of spokes.

The object of this invention is to ini/prove the construction of ironwheels; and its nature consists in securing the thimblc in place by oneor more spokes, and in securing the spokes into the tire or rim, ashereinafter more fully described.

`In the drawings, a indicates the hub; b, the

` thilnble; c, the tire or rim; d cl', the spokes;

e e', the spoke-holes in the hub; j', the screwthreads at the ends ofthe spokes, and g locknuts.

The hub c is made ot' cast-iron, with a centralopeniug large enough toreceive the thimble b. This central hole or opening is enlarged at theends, as shown at Fig. 3. The spoke-holes are cast or drilled in, andthe holes e do not pass quite through, while the holes c do. The spokesd are made of round iron rods, and are provided with screw-threads attheir outer e'ds. The spokes d' are provided with similar but longerscrew-threads, and at any suitable `part along their length they areprovided with an angular or ilattened portion, so that an ordinarywrench may be easily applied to turn them. The spoke-holes in the tireor rim are tapped or screw-threaded, so that the spokes screw directlyinto the tire, which is held in place and supported by the spokesscrewed therein. In thisconstruction the nuts g are not essential, asthe tire or rim is not supported upon them, and is not unsupported whenthey are turned back or get misplaced. rlhe nuts g are used only aslock-nuts. The wheel shown is designed mainly to be used on sulky-plows,eultivators, corn-planters, and other implements that run on or overloose earth, which is liable to be taken up by one without sending thewheel to a shop. The

thimble is made in the form shown, and the spokes d', which are placedin the holes e', with their inner ends resting against the thimble, andby screwing them down tightly the thimhle is locked in place. Byunscrewing these spokes the thimble is unlocked and can be tak'en outandanother one inserted at any time without going to a shop. rlwo only ofthese spokes cl are shown, one at each end of the hub; but it is evidentthat more than two can be used. When the spokes are all in place and therim properly strained all projections beyond the tire are trimmed oft'.

I do not claim an iron h-ub or wheel, nor do Iclaim, broadly, spokeshaving screws and nuts; but the advantages of my construction ot' thewheel are, that the rim can be properly tightened with spokes ofirregular lengths and the rim made concentric with the hub, and

`when surplus in thelength of any of thespokes is left it projectsthrough the rim, where it is accessible for trimming `or cutting oft'.The spokes passingthrough the rim-receive a portion of the thrust directon their ends, in case a stone or other hard substance is struck, and tothat extent relieve the screw-threads therefrom.

What I ela-im as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The hub a, having the holes e e', in combination with the spokes clcl" and detachable thimble b, constructed and operating substantially asspecified.

v2. The combination of the rim c, having screw-threaded spoke-holesextending through it,with the hub a, spokes d, having screwthreads f ontheir outer ends, and round hubtenons, and the lock-nuts g,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JOSEPH B. NEFF. Witnesses:

` L. L. BOND,

J. A. AYREs.

